Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-18
THE BARD OF AVON.
GEO. W. CHILDS' MAGNIFICENT GIFT TO
SHAKRSPRARE'S BIRTHPLACE
A Beautiful Drinking Pountain-ImpreSSive CersnO-
niss-Hsnry Irving Daliysrs the At-
drsss-LOndOns Hungry Thou
sands IN Arms

LONDON, October 17.-Tbe Shakespeare
memorial fountain, presented by Mr.. G..
W. Childs, OF Philadelphia, to the town OF
Stratiord-upon-Ayon, was dedicated with
imposing ceremonies today. The early
trains brought large numbers Of distin-
guished persons to attend the dedication.
The::weather was fine there, was an immense
crowd in attendance, and much enthusi-
asm was manifested. DR.. McCauley rep
resented Mr.. Childs at the proceedings.
Just before noon the invited guests formed
in line and marched to the Town Hal,
and thence to the site of the fountain.
The Mayor opened the proceedings. He
referred to the regrettable absence Of Mr..
James Russell Lowell. He had, however,
received letter from Mr.. Lowell, which
would go home to the hearts Of all who
heard it, and of the many more who would
hear it. The letter said:
81 should more deeply regret my inabil-
ity to be present at the interesting cere-
monial OF the 18th, were it not that my
countrymen will he more fifty and ade-
quately represented there by their accom-
plished Minister, Mr.. Phelps.
THE occasion is certainly most inter-
esting one. The monument which you
accept to-day in behalf of your townsmen,
commentaries at once the most marvellous
of Englishmen, and the Jubilee year of
the august lady, whose name is honored
wherever the language is spoken, of which
he was the greatest master. No symbol
could more apply serve this double purpose
than fountain, for surely no poet ever
poured forth so broad river of speech as
he, whether he was the author of 'NOyum
Organon" also or not. Nor could the pur-
ity of her character and example be better
typifed than by the current which shall
flow forever from the sources opened here
today. Cheers 1t was Washington
IrviGg who first embodied in his delightful
| English the emotion which Stratford-on-
Avon makes in the heart of the Pilgrim,
and especially of the American pilgrim, who
visits it. l am glad to think hat this
memorial should be the gift Of an Ameri-
can and thus serve to recall the kindred
blood of the two great nations. Joint heirs
of the same noble language, and OF the
genius that has given it a cosmopolitan sig
nificance | am glad of it because it is
one of the multiplying signs that those
two nations are beginning to think more
and more of the things in which they sym
pathise, and less and less Of those in which
they differ Cheers. A Acommon language
is not indeed the sweetest bond Of amity,
for this enables each country to understand
whatever unpleasant things the other may
chance to say about it. As | am one of
those who believe that an honest friend
ship between Europe and America
is most desirable theory, trust that we
shall on both sides think it equally desir-
abe in our intercourse one with another,
| to make our mother tongue search her coi-
fers round for the polished rather than the
sharp-cornered epithet she has stored there.
Let us by all means speak the truth TO
each other, for there is no one else who can
speak it to either of US with such frater
nal instinct for the weak point OF the other.
But let rs do it i'll such wise a. TO show
that it is the truth and not the discomfort
we can inilict by means Of it"
Enthusiastic cheers were given when
| the Mayor finished reading Mr.. Low
ellis letter. The poet Whittier had
also written q cOngratulatory letter
to Mr.. Childs, in which he said
that the gift during the present year was
happy thought as connected with the
| Queens Jubilee, and would 90 far toward
atoning for foolish utterances about Eng
land coming from some American citizens
Looking at the memorial" continued
the Mayor, everybody must acknOwl-
edge that it is handsome structure. The
manner in which the gilt was bestowed
makes its acceptance a genuine pleasure.
Mr.. Childs, in numerous letters TO me,
repeatedly said that no expense should he
spared.
Money is no object, he said. Il wish
to present a gift to Shakespeare's town
worthy Of his great name"
Mr.. Irving said he had been requested
| 10 read poem, the work of poet whose
name was beloved wherever the English
language was spoken. Mr.. Holmes had
made the memorial the subject OF these
memorial verses:
| THE POEM.
Welcome, thrice welcome is thy silvery CLEAN,
| Thou long Imprisoned stream,
| Welcome the tinkle OF thy crystal beads
| As plRShing randrops 70 the iiOwery meads,
| A. summers bre aih TO Avon's whispering reeds
| From rock-walled channels, drowned in rsylcs
| night,
| Leap forth to life and light:
| Wake from the darkness Of thy troubled dream,
And greet with answering smile the mornings 5
| beam,
| No purCr lymph the white limbed Nsiad knows
Than from thy chalice flows;
| Not the bright spring Of Afrc,s sunny shores
| Starry with spangles washed from golden ores,
| SOrglsssy stream Blandusias fountain pour,
| Nor wave translucent where Sabhna fair
Braids her loose flowing hair,
| Nor the swirl current, stainless as IL rose
Where chill Aryeiron steals from Alpine SHOWS.
Here shall the traveller stay his weary feet
| To seek thy calm retreat:
| Here al high noon the brown armed reaper rest
Here when the shadows lengthening from the
| west
Call the mute song bird 10 his leafy nest,
Matron and maid shall chat the cares away
That brooded DER the day,
While fiOcking round them troops Of children
And ali the arches ring with laughter sweet
Here shall the steed, his patient life who spends
In toll that never ends
| Hot from his thirsty tramp 0 er hill and plain,
Plunge his red nostrils while the tonurlng rein
Drops in loose loop beside his floating name;
Nor the poor brute that shares his masters lot -
Find his small needs forgot
Truest OF humble, long enduring friends,
Whose presence cheer whose guardian care de-
fends!
Here lark and thrush and nightingale shall sip
| And skimming swallows dip,
| And strange shy wanderers fold their lustrUuH
! plumes
Fragrant from bOwerS that lent their sweet per
fumes
Where Psstum's rose or Persia's lilac blooms;
Here from his cloud the eagle stoop 20 drink
At the full basins brink,
And whet his beAk against its rounded lip,
His glossy feathers glistening a. they drip.
i Here shall the dreaming poet linger long,
Far from his listening thrUnE-
Nor lutte nor Tyre his trembling hand shall bring;
Here no frail Muse shall imp her crippled wing.
No fAltering minstrel strain his throat 70 sing!
These hsllOWed echoes who shall dare to claim
Whose tuneless voice would shame,
Whose jGngling chord with Jarring notes would
wrong
The ny1nphs that heard the Swan Of AvOns song
What visions greet the pilgrims rAptured eyes!
What ghosts made real r1sei
| The dead reiurn.-they breathe, they live again,
Joined by the hOst Of FAncys airy train,
Fresh from the springs Of shakesPeare's quick
euing BRAIN
The stream that slakes the souls 6iTiner Thirst
Here found the SInbeamS hrst;
| Rich with his fame not lesE shall memory pine